Vaneta Jayne Saunders Zaugg, a lifelong Ogden resident known for her extensive community service and crafting, passed away peacefully on October 4, 2026, at the age of 88. Zaugg leaves behind a legacy marked by profound faith, quiet service, and an abundance of love knitted into the lives of everyone who knew her.
Born on April 11, 1938, in Ogden, Utah, Vaneta was the daughter of John William and Stella Marie Van Zweden Saunders. She grew up in Ogden alongside her sisters, Sharon and Colleen, and her brother, Paul, graduating from Ben Lomond High School.
It was during her youth in Ogden that she met Wendell Zaugg, the love of her life. Their story began at the Supreme Dairy, where Vaneta worked as a carhop. Their relationship blossomed at Combe’s Restaurant, where Wendell proposed. On June 19, 1956, Wendell and Vaneta were united in marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Logan, Utah Temple. They recently celebrated 70 beautiful years of marriage built on a foundation of mutual devotion and shared faith.
Throughout her life, Vaneta balanced roles at home and work, including time spent at Fotomat, Sprouse Reitz, and Beneficial Life.
Vaneta was a lifelong, faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served willingly in many callings, including in the scouting program, as a primary teacher, and in the Relief Society presidency. Together, she and Wendell served as stake missionaries and completed three missions: an 18-month cannery mission, followed by two back-to-back 30-month service missions in the Ogden Inner City Mission, specifically the Mound Fort Ward.
Known for her incredible gifts with her hands and even greater generosity with her heart, Vaneta pursued hobbies that included making hot pads, Afghans, sewing clothes, quilting, embroidering, canning garden produce, and puzzle solving. Her hands were rarely still. She handmade quilts for each of her seven children when they were married. She also crafted beautiful quilts, receiving blankets, sweaters, hats, and booties for all 30 of her grandchildren upon their births. During her time in the Relief Society presidency, she crocheted and donated burp cloths to every new mother in her ward. In an extraordinary act of community service, she crocheted and knit over 1,000 baby and preemie hats for the Davis North Hospital nursery and Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit, benefiting countless families in the region.
Vaneta found peace and joy in simple things, including reading Church books, Ensign magazines, watching General Conference, and enjoying her favorite movie, “Herbie the Love Bug.” Her greatest joy was her expansive, loving family. Alongside Wendell, she raised seven children and helped support 12 of her grandchildren as they served full-time missions.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Wendell, and their seven children: Terry (Dicksie) Zaugg, Curt (Karen) Zaugg, Wendy (Jimmy) Packer, Sheila (Scott) Giles, Kelly (Kristin) Zaugg, Shellie (Ryan) Ferry, and Heidi (Mike) Boss. She is also survived by her 30 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, with four more on the way. Additionally, she is survived by her brothers-in-law Jim Marriott and Alonzo Zaugg; and sisters-in-law Diane Saunders, Eunice Harris, Bernice Zaugg, and Linette (Dwight) Butt.
She was reunited in death with her parents, John and Stella; her sisters, Sharon (LaVar) South and Colleen Marriott; her brother, Paul Saunders; her grandson Toby R. Boss; and her great-grandson Paul Shearer, as well as her in-laws, Vergil Zaugg, Maxine (Jay) Park, Lee Harris, and Ellen Zaugg.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, located at 1867 N. Fairfield Rd., Layton, Utah. Family and friends may visit the mortuary prior to the service on Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Interment will be held at Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd., Ogden, Utah.